PARAMETER AND CONFIGURATION OPTIMIZATION OF FLOTATION CIRCUITS .1. A REVIEW OF PRIOR WORK

Prior work in configuration and parameter optimization of flotation ci rcuits is reviewed. The papers are split into two groups on the basis of problem formulation and solution strategies. Both groups employ a s tructural parameters approach to represent circuit configuration alter natives, which, without care, may result in solutions involving compli cated circuit configurations. The group I authors have found an effect ive way to deal with problem nonlinearities in a direct search optimiz ation approach, and the latter work of this group appears to have over come earlier problems with configuration complexity. The group II auth ors have dealt with the nonlinearity by a two-stage optimization appro ach that first determines optimum configuration, then optimum componen t flows. However, the optimality of the resulting configurations is qu estionable since individual species flows and product grade have not b een considered. Moreover, there are questions as to whether the separa tion behavior of the flotation cells can be accurately represented in their procedure.